Harry... was miserable. He thought he had gotten away from Dudley. He thought he would never have to see him, or the Dursleys, ever again... wasn't that what The Headmaster promised him?... he had to admit, when McGonagall told him the Dursleys had died in a car accident... he suspected Foul Play... and he wasn't sure how he felt about that...

It was confusing, all he ever wanted was for the Dursleys to love him back... but another part of him... the part he is ashamed of... wanted them dead even more then he wanted their love... and now...

Harry was... confused... about a lot of things really. Not just his own feelings (although those were complex enough to need a few visits to Saint Mungos). But also, why Dudley was in the care of his head of house. And why was Harry called to the man's quarters.

"You're my new guardian?" Harry blinked. His Head of House had barely said two words to him. Harry couldn't help but wonder why this man would even be interested in looking after him... maybe... "You mean cause your my head of house? Is this some wizard version of wards of the state?"

Dudley paled at that. The last thing he needed was to be lumped together in an orphanage, with the freak. His parents had often warned Harry, of the hell that was an orphanage. Warning the unruly brat, that they would have to send him there, if the boy didn't get his "freakishness" under control... Dudley had no more wish to go there, then Harry.

Snape groaned, wishing this could be easier. "No, your mothers and I were friends, growing up. Lily, as the head of the family, left Harry in her sister's care. Believing she would do the right thing and raise him like her own... as Lily would have done for Dudley."

Dudley snorted.

Snape raised an eyebrow. "You doubt this."

"That woman wouldn't be fit to raise a cactus," Dudley scowled. "My mom told me all about her lay about drunk of a sister."

Something in Snape... snapped. His magic lashed out around the room, shattering every nearby object. Then immediately stopped.

Snape closed his eyes, and took a calming breath. Not even the Dark Lord could get under his skin, but a few unkind words about his beloved Lily had caused him to have an aura flare up...

The comment had just been so unexpected, so unprovoked, that he hadn't had time to hide his feelings behind his Occlumency Shields... and now he scared both the children.

Snape sighed, before waving his wand. Casting a mass repair spell on all his shattered belongings.

That seemed to confuse the children. Clearly wondering if they should be even more frightened, or impressed by his skill.

"Lily..." Snape tried to find the words without lashing out. "Didn't even like the taste of Alcohol. I had to goad her to take a sip at new years."

Mind you that was when they were kids, and Sev swiped the bottle from Hogsmeade... but that was only after she dared him to chug the bottle, which he failed to do. He had the sneaking suspicion, she only wanted him to do that, so she didn't have to try any, then save face by calling Snape "greedy"... she should have been in Slytherin...

Snape did his best to repress the happy memory of teenage rebellion... tainted by so much regret... He should have realized taking in Lily's family, would have made him think of her.

"She was a loving mother, who gave her very life protecting her son. Your mother wasn't even willing to give her nephew a proper bed, much less a bedroom."

Dudley's eyes shot open, "What has this freak been telling you!?" he demanded.

Snape expected the Potter spawn to fight back, at least with his words... but the boy just flinched at Dudley's tone... and looked increasingly worried.

Now, being a former spy for the light, Snape prided himself on piecing together vast somes of information on subtle displays... mind you his temper had a way of clouding that.

Glaring down at the obese child, in comparison to the far too scrawny Potter spawn... Snape locked on both the children's eyes. Then skimmed through their thoughts, neither boy the wiser. Snape wasn't one inclined to give children "Privacy"... mostly because he knew they would rather rot in an abusive environment, then seek help... he had been one such child, himself.

Snape learned... every detail about the Dursley household, from both children's point of view. He now understood Dudley to be a horrible bully... as well as a frightened child, who put too much faith in his parents' words. While that was right, his parents, hadn't been worthy of that trust.

His parents micromanaged his life, which caused him to be emotionally stunted. They caved into his every indulgence, just to shut him up. Which was the reason he was in such poor health. This boy might not understand it, but he was just as much an abuse victim as Harry. The child had no idea how to function, in the real world, and his trusting nature made him a perfect Patsy.

Snape would have to work with him, on that. "Your parents were jealous of the fact, they didn't have magic, and took that jealousy out on their nephew. Lily trusted them to act like decent human beings. Instead they abused BOTH of the children in their care, and manipulated you two through lies."

Dudley was shaking with anger. Snape expected as much. It was too much for the boy to understand what was done to him, after the first time pointing it out... though what happened next... Snape certainly had not expected.

The fat child fell to the floor, and started kicking his legs, even completed the picture by swinging his arms. The boy was even more emotionally regressed then Snape realized. This was not the acceptable behavior of a boy in secondary school.

Maybe screaming obscenities, throwing a punch, declaring Snape the liar, but not a toddler style tantrum. Mind you none of those were acceptable, but it was too be expected. Would even be healthy, to a degree, as part of the healing process... this showed just how much work Snape had to do... starting with something very important, setting boundaries.

"WAAAAAA!!!!" Dudley was now crying, for a very different reason.

His trousers were on the floor, as the boy had kicked them off. While his bare hide was being assaulted by a slipper... at least Snape sent the freak away.

"And here be Young Master Harry Potter Sir's room," presented the little creature.

It was all kinds of scrawny, even when compared to Harry, with big floppy ears. Looking much like a mix between a beagle and a bat. Somehow, it was even shorter then Harry. It's nose was thin, and as long as a full grown man's hand. It's eyes looked like a freaking anime character, easily taking up a third of it's head.

However fascinated Harry was, by the creature, or even the sound of Dudley getting his first ever spanking... The raven haired child was more intrigued by the door... with a large bronze plaque on it... the words "Harry's Room" engraved on it.

There were three other doors, down this hallway. Each with their own plaque. One saying "Draco", another "Dudley", while the door at the end of the wall was unmarked.

Harry could read between the lines, or at the very least form some measure of hope... These doors, each with their own plaque, implied an entirely alien concept, for all the children of this household. Harry would be treated just like the other children.

Hesitantly Harry opened the door... to find it painted with nice cream walls... there were various bookshelves, lined with muggle books Harry always wished he could read... posters of the child's favorite bands, that Harry was never allowed his own records of... and various Vinyl, complete with a magically operated record player... he even had a toy box... filled with every toy he ever wanted.

Harry wasn't a greedy child. In comparison to Dudley's desires, this room was down right Spartan... but this was the room he always pictured as his... down to the race car bed... it was something out of his deepest, most secret fantasies...

Harry hesitantly crawled onto the bed. Feeling it's solid form. Made of genuine matter, and not a neglected child's dreams.

Harry did the only thing he could do, he curled on the bed, and began to silently weep... momentarily forgetting the creature was watching him.

After, a little less then a minute, of weeping, Harry felt a comforting hand on his back.

Looking up, he saw the stern Potions Master... and immediately started to panic.

"I'm sorry sir!" Harry instantly sat up, wiping his eyes. "I didn't mean to bother you." Harry knew how much his uncle hated it, when he cried.

What the boy didn't expect, was for the man to pull him into a hug, gently caressing his back.

Harry went stiff, as he'd never been hugged before... but after a few moments, he began to relax in the embrace, and started crying again.

• At Breakfast.

"How come you have the exact number of rooms you need?" Dudley asked, the following morning.

The three of them were seated around a table, in the corner of the living room. The little creature had brought them a healthy breakfast of oatmeal, and fruit. Which, naturally, Dudley almost threw another tantrum over... but after being reminded of his first spanking, he thought better of it.

"Magic," The freak answered.

Harry, assumed, magic had something to do with giving him his ideal bedroom. He thought it was something to do with the castle, itself. He didn't realize Snape read his mind, and personally hunted for everything the boy wanted.

Dudley scowled at his cousin, "I wasn't asking you!"

"Regardless," Snape put in. "Young Harold is correct."

Harry blinked, he hadn't realized his proper name was "Harold". He thought it was simply "Harry"... well originally he thought it was "Boy" but learned that wasn't the case when he started primary school...

The Dursley's had been pissed, as the school started asking them all kinds of questions. That is, after Harry introduced himself as "Boy" to the class. That's when the Dursley's started spreading the rumors, that Harry was a hooligan and constant liar...

It was frustrating, that there was still so much he didn't know about himself. He had been truly floored, when he learned his name was actually "Harry". Just as he was now floored, to know that was a nickname.

His real name was Harold... sounds posh. Like something nobles would name their son... and Harry's... Harold's birth parents had been wealthy nobles...

Maybe he could ask Snape about them... the Professor said they were friends... maybe... Harold lost the nerve to ask. Not while Dudley was around, at least.

While Harry's mind ran through a million thoughts and emotions, Snape continued. "I had the elves set up extension charms, to add a few rooms to my chambers. You will find, they have also added an age line, to my private potions lab. You will be able to enter it, only with permission." Snape made note of the obvious pout on Harry's face.

"I recall," Snape looked at Harry. "You said something about wanting to be a potions master."

Harry gave a hesitant nod.

"If you would like," Snape began. "I can give you some private lessons, to help you achieve your goal."

Harry smiled brightly, "That be great!... Sir!" The boy added the honorific, after a moment of realizing he probably should.

Snape nodded, making a mental note to work with the child, on his manners. There should not have been such hesitation, but it was good the boy remembered, at all.

The Professor then looked over at Dudley, "What about you, Mister Dursley? Any plans for the future?" knowing the answer.

The plump child blinked, "I... haven't really thought about it..." well it was the expected answer, it was not a desirable one.

Children, Dudley's age, should have dreams about romanticized jobs. They might change this, weekly, as they discover more about themselves, but they should, at least, have dreams.

This was just more proof Dudley was emotionally stunted... maybe Snape should schedule the boys for mind healing sessions, with Poppy. As a Master Healer, she was qualified to see to mental health, as well as physical.

"Perhaps, you could discover an area, through your studies." Snape offered.

Dudley shrugged, looking at his plate... this was all just so... normal. It was bizarre, how mundane the conversation was, when they were surrounded by the impossible.

"What was that thing that made our food?" Dudley blurted out. Trying to distract himself. He got a sudden spike of sadness, and quickly buried it. He wasn't ready to deal with his parents death. He couldn't handle it, right now. Not in front of the Freak.

Snape eyed the boy, seeming to know the reason for the change of topic, but still disapproving of something. "Firstly, I don't want to hear you call any Sapient being a 'thing' again," Snape scolded... and again it was actually something Dudley would expect a normal adult to say.

"Second," Snape continued, "She is a 'House Elf'. They are a servant race, given to the prophet Merlin, and his followers. Nowadays, the goblins breed and educate them. Elves are master craftsmen, and actually more powerful then wizards, by far. Though they need to bind themselves, to a magical area or person, to live.

"Many prefer serving a master. However, what wizards tend to forget, is elves create the bind, themselves.

"They like to serve, and have cultural taboos about accepting money for their services. Their currency is a favor, for a favor. With the favor of servitude, for feeding off a wizard's magic, considered fair to them.

"They grow quite emotionally attached, to those they serve. Twinkle, actually, belonged to the Potter family, but Lily requested she go to me, if anything happen to them... Lily thought I could use the company... and someone to make sure I don't get so engrossed in my work, I starve to death."

Snape gave a sad smile, as he remembered another tidbit of his youth. Lily, and Snape, getting in trouble from McGonagall, for skipping meals, and neglecting their hygiene, due to getting over excited about an experiment... they were a lot like the Weasley Twins. Without the pranks.

"She..." Harry gulped, "She used to work for my parents?"

Snape nodded, "She used to change your diapers, actually. She was quite excited, to learn she would be able to look after you again." and was in a near panic after Harry started crying last night.

She had taken Dudley off Snape's lap, shoved the boy into a corner, and immediately brought Snape to Harry.

Not the best idea, to stop halfway through a child's punishment. However, an emotionally distraught child, was of greater priority, then disciplining another. Thankfully, it all worked out, as Dudley wasn't even aware he was let off near half his punishment... and, surprisingly, the handful of smacks had successfully worked as a deterrent.

Once the boy's were done eating, Snape informed. "We need to make a trip to Diagon Alley. In order to pick up Dudley's school things, dress warmly." plus an outing would help them adjust as a family.

The boy's looked at each other, before looking at Snape.

"But I have classes," Harry reminded.

"You, will be staying in my quarters," Snape informed. "With Dudley. The school is allowing you time to grieve. However, you need not fear, I requested your teachers send me your assignments. I will be tutoring you over this time period."

Both boys groaned. Dudley, for the traditional methodology of children hating school. While Harry, having realized learning magic was hard work, and not randomly waving a wand, for fun.

The boys would be even more distraught, when they learned Snape planned to continue their muggle education, as well.